<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-K
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                            <C>                      <C>                    <C>                    
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  3-MOS                    6-MOS                  9-MOS                  
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1998 
<PERIOD-START>                            OCT-01-1997             OCT-01-1997             OCT-01-1997 
<PERIOD-END>                              DEC-31-1997             MAR-31-1998             JUN-30-1998 
<CASH>                                         66,031                  87,007                 116,575 
<SECURITIES>                                        0                       0                       0 
<RECEIVABLES>                                 560,217                 462,427                 448,969 
<ALLOWANCES>                                   25,029                  30,158                  28,988 
<INVENTORY>                                 1,034,110                 959,308                 876,111 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            1,664,738               1,512,922               1,447,148 
<PP&E>                                        116,186                 118,386                 120,348 
<DEPRECIATION>                                 49,969                  52,991                  56,057 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              1,780,096               1,631,171               1,575,976 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         958,967                 942,040                 954,690 
<BONDS>                                       781,005                 630,540                 541,616 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0                       0                       0 
<PREFERRED>                                         0                       0                       0 
<COMMON>                                          273                     273                     273 
<OTHER-SE>                                     29,287                  47,740                  68,531 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                1,780,096               1,631,171               1,575,976 
<SALES>                                     2,279,558               4,497,912               6,627,104 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            2,279,558               4,497,912               6,627,104 
<CGS>                                       2,173,952               4,279,293               6,309,016 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               2,173,952               4,279,293               6,309,016 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               69,202                 143,608                 206,509 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                3,066                   8,383                   8,505 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             12,662                  24,692                  34,250 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                23,742                  50,319                  77,329 
<INCOME-TAX>                                    9,259                  19,626                  30,164 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            14,483                  30,693                  47,165 
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0                       0                       0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0                       0                       0 
<CHANGES>                                           0                       0                       0 
<NET-INCOME>                                   14,483                  30,693                  47,165 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     .61                    1.29                    1.97 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     .60                    1.27                   1.95 
        


</TABLE>